Metal Gear Solid Mobile Sneaks Out on N-Gage

Showing what a master spy he is, Solid Snake - protagonist of stealth-'em-up Metal Gear Solid Mobile - sneaked out onto the N-Gage showroom yesterday evening when we were least prepared for it.

While the majority of the (almost) ever-vigilant Pocket Gamer staff were drinking themselves into a stupor at the PG chrimbo bash, Konami made its move.

"Metal Gear Solid Mobile features dramatic 3D art displays and camera work that greatly surpasses the quality standard of today's mobile games. Players will face the extreme tension of solitary infiltration in this version of the tactical espionage action game." Said a spokesman, just prior to snapping our neck and scrambling back into the shadows.

Metal Gear Solid Mobile is set between Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which were released on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 respectively. The series eschews the usual run-and-gun gameplay in favour of a more considered, stealthy approach.

To complement the release, official website N-Gage.com has posted a handy who's who guide so that new players can keep track of what on earth is going in Konami's latest opus.

For those who haven't played a Metal Gear Solid game before, each title features a labyrinthine plot that's equal parts 24 and Eastenders. Even for fans of the series, it can be very hard keeping track of who does what, who the bad guys are and who is a clone of whom (see, just like Eastenders).